From December 2 to 13, 2024, the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute NOAH Center (UP RI NOAH) hosted two (2) Grade 12 students from the UP Integrated School (UPIS) to serve as interns. This is the first time UPIS has invited UP RI to be their partner institution for the on-campus internship of Grade 12 students in the Applied Sciences and Engineering (ASE) track. This two-week internship aimed to equip the students with firsthand experience of workplace systems and decorum.
An orientation session was conducted last November 28, 2024, to discuss the guidelines and work plan for their two-week stay, covering a total of 80 internship hours. It was attended by the two students with Asst. Prof. Charlaine Guerrero, Program Adviser of the ASE Track, and Asst. Prof. Edwin Conel, Learning Coordinator of the ASE Track from UPIS, Ms. Lea Victoria Serrano and Ms. Monica May Mendoza from UP RI Education Division, Engr. Alexis Bryan Rivera from UP RI NOAH Center – Hazards Assessment Team, and Dr. Likha Minimo from UP RI Knowledge Sharing Division.
The two young interns, namely Kaitlyn P. David and Vince Matthew C. Jaro, joined UP RI with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Tasked with contributing to the institute’s initiatives in disaster risk reduction and resilience, the students were exposed to a dynamic environment where academic research intersects with real-world applications. Under the mentorship of Engr. Rivera and Dr. Minimo, the interns compiled an earthquake database using GIS and Google Earth, analyzed the Kanlaon eruption’s impact using Ash3D, and conducted citizen science crowd-sourcing to compile disaster damages from the eruption.. Alongside these technical tasks, they honed workplace skills like teamwork, time management, and professionalism, equipping them for future academic and career pursuits.
To conclude their internship, the interns presented their outputs and key learnings during a final presentation attended by UPIS faculty, members of the NOAH Center – Hazards Assessment Team, and Dr. Likha Minimo. They highlighted two major outputs: (1) the different natural hazards that impacted various places in the Philippines during the onslaught of STS Kristine and STY Pepito, and (2) the impact estimate of the recent Kanlaon eruption using GIS and Ash3D. The interns successfully finished the internship on December 13, 2024.
The UP Resilience Institute’s initiative to open its doors to young learners underscores the importance of engaging the youth in addressing critical societal challenges. After all, building a resilient future starts with empowering the next generation.